Interview: Dan the Automator (Deltron 3030)

Published on August 27th, 2013 | Jonny Abrams

Deltron 3030’s self-titled first album is one of the all-time great hip-hop concept records – you know what, make that one of the all-time great hip-hop records full stop – so Rocksucker was thrilled to hear that its successor, Event II, is almost upon us after a gap of over a decade.

Thrilled, and now deeply honoured, for we were fortunate enough to be granted an interview apiece with this supergroup’s three constituent legends: Dan the Automator, Del the Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala.

First up to tell us about it is Dan the Automator (alias Cantankerous Captain Aptos), who recently launched a Deltron 3030-themed beer named after first album cut “Positive Contact”. Furthermore, a six-bottle set of the stuff comes with “a list of Deltron 3030-inspired recipes from a small group of renowned chefs” – read on for more about that…

Who or what initiated the recording of Event II, and why has it taken so long to arrive? Has it simply been a case of you all having so much else going on?

We had always planned to do it. Ultimately it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Del needed to be in the right frame of mind to write and we were all busy with other projects as well.

That’s a hell of a roster of guest appearances you’ve got on the album. Was it generally a case of you guys approaching them, or vice versa?

I pretty much work with all the guests.

Will you be doing more Deltron 3030 orchestra shows?

Yes as many as we can possibly manage. We have a really good band show as well, but if the orchestra can be accommodated we will do it!

(Rocksucker says: Since we spoke, a string of live shows have been announced. Scroll down for a list of dates.)

Is there any way for us Brits to get hold of some Positive Contact to quench our collective thirst? Does it cost $3.30?

You would have to contact Dogfish Head to see what they do as far as international shipping goes. It is a bit more than $3.30 because it is a 720 ml bottle.

I saw another interview with you in which the interviewer suggested that “Virus” would have been a good Deltron 3030 track to name the beer after. Surely “Memory Loss” is the one? (Or even “New Coke” if you were feeling cheeky…)

I would go with “Memory Loss”. Actually I don’t know of many mixed drinks with beer, but if one could make a potent cocktail with “Positive Contact”, I propose it should be called “Memory Loss”.

How did your chosen chefs go about tailoring their recipes to the Deltron 3030 listening experience? What kind of things did they come up with?

They created recipes while listening to the dub versions of the songs and drinking the beer.